Cost and logistics of implementing a tissue-based American College of Surgeons/Association of Program Directors in Surgery surgical skills curriculum for general surgery residents of all clinical years

Background

The cost and logistics of deploying the American College of Surgeons (ACS)/Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) National Technical Skills Curriculum across all training years are not known. This information is essential for residency programs choosing to adopt similar curricula.

Methods

A task force evaluated the authors' institution's existing simulation curriculum and enhanced it by implementing the ACS/APDS modules. A 35-module curriculum was administered to 35 general surgery residents across all 5 clinical years. The costs and logistics were noted, and resident satisfaction was assessed.

Results

The annual operational cost was $110,300 ($3,150 per resident). Cost per module, per resident was $940 for the cadaveric module compared with $220 and $240 for dry simulation and animal tissue–based modules, respectively. Resident satisfaction improved from 2.45 to 4.78 on a 5-point, Likert-type scale after implementing the ACS/APDS modules.

Conclusions

The ACS/APDS skills curriculum was implemented successfully across all clinical years. Cadaveric modules were the most expensive. Animal and dry simulation modules were equivalent in cost. The addition of tissue-based modules was associated with high satisfaction.     

Can a surgeon predict the risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism during thyroid surgery? A prospective study on self-assessment by experts

Background

Thyroid surgery can cause postoperative hypocalcemia (POH) and permanent hypoparathyroidism (PEH). Surgeons implicitly assess the risk and adapt their surgical strategy accordingly.

Methods

The outcome of this intraoperative decision-making process (the surgeons' ability to predict the risk of POH and PEH on a numerical rating scale and their actual incidence) was studied prospectively in 2,558 consecutive thyroid operations.

Results

POH and PEH occurred in 723 and 64 patients, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the surgeons' risk assessment score was an independent predictive factor for both complications (P < .05). Surgeons' differed significantly (P = .015) in their rates of POH but not of PEH (P = .062). Six and 3 (of 9) surgeons correctly predicted an increased risk of PEH and POH (adjusted odds ratios 1.67 to 2.21 and 1.47 to 12.73), respectively.

Conclusion

The risk for hypoparathyroidism can be estimated, but surgeons differ substantially in this ability and in the extent to which this implicit knowledge is translated into lower complication rates.     

Is NSQIP Pediatric review representative of total institutional experience for children undergoing appendectomy?

Background/purpose

NSQIP Pediatric (NSQIP-P) is a robust quality improvement effort. A limitation of the NSQIP process lies in capturing a small proportion of the total case volume. This study examines whether appendectomies captured by NSQIP-P are concordant with all appendectomies, the most commonly captured procedure in 2011.

Methods

We compared case mix and 30-day outcomes between children undergoing an appendectomy who were included in NSQIP (n = 80) and children not captured by NSQIP (n = 276) during 2011 at a tertiary referral children’s hospital. A single surgical case reviewer reviewed all cases using NSQIP-P methodology.

Results

NSQIP-P captured 80 of a total of 356 appendectomies (22%). The case mix was similar between NSQIP and non-NSQIP groups (e.g., 31% of each group had complicated appendicitis). Outcomes were also similar; post-operative occurrences, readmissions and return to the operation room occurred at rates of 7.5% vs. 7.6%, 5% vs. 4.7%, and 3.8% vs. 4.3% respectively.

Conclusion

Although NSQIP-P captured a minority of the total patient population that had an appendectomy, the case mix and outcomes were similar. Our results offer reassurance that NSQIP-P data are representative of the larger population for this procedure. Whether this concordance exists for procedures less commonly performed is unknown and a focus of ongoing work.     

Optimal resources for children's surgical care

We will discuss a new initiative of the American College of Surgeons and the American Pediatric Surgical Association to prospectively define optimal resource standards for children’s surgical care.     

超低位直肠癌行纵向部分括约肌切除术和经内外括约肌间切除术后肛门功能及生活质量比较

目的比较纵向部分括约肌切除术（PLRAs）和经内外括约肌间切除术（ISR）后直肠癌患者的肛门功能和生活质量。方法将99例超低位直肠癌患者按照手术方式的不同分为PLRAS组n=23）和ISR组（n=76）。于术后6、12及24个月,采用Saito功能问卷和Wexner评分量表评估术后的肛门功能,采用欧洲癌症研究与治疗组织开发的特为结直肠肿瘤患者而设的生活质量核心量表（EORTC-QLQ-CR29）评估术后的生活质量,并进行组间比较。结果①吻合口狭窄：与ISR组比较,在术后6个月,PLRAS组的吻合口狭窄程度较重（P〈0．001）;在术后12个月时改善并不明显,狭窄程度仍较ISR组重（P=-0．003）;在术后24个月,2组患者的吻合口狭窄程度比较差异无统计学意义（P-0．230）。②Saito功能问卷结果：术后6个月时,PLRAS组存在排便截断（P=0．016）、存在排便困难（P=0．008）及能分辨排气和排便（P〈0．001）患者的比例均较ISR组高;在术后12个月,PLRAS组能分辨排气和排便患者的比例仍较ISR组高（P=-0．017）;在术后24个月,2组间的差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。③Wexner得分结果：各时点2组患者的Wexner得分比较差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。④生活质量：在术后6个月,PLRAS组患者的会阴部疼痛得分（P=0．031）和性交困难得分（P=0．006）均高于ISR组,而排气失禁（P=0．003）、排便失禁（P=-0．043）和女性性功能（P=-0．023）得分均低于ISR组;在术后12个月,PLRAS组患者的排气失禁（P=0．012）和女性性功能（P=0．017）得分均低于ISR组,而性交困难（P=0．012）得分高于ISR组;在术后24个月,2组患者各项得分的差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论PLRAS术后12个月内的肛门狭窄情况和对女性性功能的影响均较ISR术更为严重,但到术后24个月,其可达到同ISR术相似的肛门功能和生活质量。     

Prevalence of middle ear disease in Chilean natives and the impact of development over 14 years

IntroductionThe prevalence of middle ear disease and its risk factors have been the subject of multiple studies. High prevalence of middle ear disease has been described among North American natives, especially chronic otitis media. Such studies have not been carried out in South America.ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of middle ear pathology and risk factors in native schoolchildren from southern Chile who belong to the Mapuche ethnic group, as well as the impact of socio-economic and demographic changes after 14 years of development.Material and methodsTwo otologic evaluations with an interval of 14 years were performed in schoolchildren with a percentage of indigenous population above 85%. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected from national official statistical data.ResultsA total of 1067 schoolchildren were examined. Many described risk factors for ear pathology were found. An overall prevalence of 0.19% for tympanic membrane perforation, 5.6% for pars tensa retraction pockets, 1.5% for pars flaccida retraction pockets and 11.1% of otitis media with effusion was found. There were several socioeconomic improvements after 14 years. The difference between the prevalence of symptoms and the presence of otitis media with effusion was statistically significant (p < 0.001).ConclusionsDespite the presence of several risk factors for middle ear disease, this study population showed a low prevalence of middle ear disease. The ethnic-racial factor seems to be a protective factor.     

米氮平治疗广泛性焦虑症患者的临床疗效及对患者防御方式与生活质量的改变

目的研究米氮平对广泛性焦虑症的治疗效果,并探讨其对患者防御方式与生活质量的影响。方法对32例广泛性焦虑症患者给予米氮平治疗,于治疗前和第1、2、4、6周末利用汉密顿焦虑量表（HAMA）评估临床疗效,同时在治疗前和治疗第6周末进行防御方式（DSQ量表）和生活质量（SF-36量表）调查。结果32例广泛性焦虑症患者中痊愈21例（65．6％）,显著进步7例（21．9％）,有效4例（12．5％）,显效率达87．5％,有效率达100％。第1、2、4、6周末与治疗前相比,HAMA评分均具有显著性差异（P〈0.05）;不良反应较少。与治疗前相比,第6周末患者成熟型防御机制评分升高,不成熟型和中间型防御机制评分降低,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;生活质量评估中一般健康（GH）、精力（VT）、社会功能（SF）、情感职能（RE）、精神健康（MH）等评分也均升高（P〈0．05）。结论米氮平能快速有效地治疗广泛性焦虑症,而且能促进患者防御机制向成熟型转变,提高生活质量。     

Oxigenación con membrana extracorpórea en la disfunción primaria del injerto en trasplante bipulmonar pediátrico: a propósito de un caso

Primary graft dysfunction is a leading cause of morbimortality in the immediate postoperative period of patients undergoing lung transplantation. Among the treatment options are: lung protective ventilatory strategies, nitric oxide, lung surfactant therapy, and supportive treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to recovery of lung function or re-transplant.We report the case of a 9-year-old girl affected by cystic fibrosis who underwent double-lung transplantation complicated with a severe primary graft dysfunction in the immediate postoperative period and refractory to standard therapies. Due to development of multiple organ failure, it was decided to insert arteriovenous ECMO catheters (pulmonary artery-right atrium). The postoperative course was satisfactory, allowing withdrawal of ECMO on the 5 th post-surgical day. Currently the patient survives free of rejection and with an excellent quality of life after 600 days of follow up.     

妊娠期高血压病产妇护理中优质护理的临床应用

目的：探讨妊娠期高血压病产妇护理中实施优质护理的临床效果。方法选择妊娠期高血压病患者96例,平均分为观察组和对照组各48例。针对本组的96例患者均行常规护理,针对观察组的48例患者,在常规护理的基础上,实施优质护理。对两组患者先兆子痫及子痫发生情况、分娩方式以及护理满意度等相关指标进行观察和统计。结果观察组患者先兆子痫及子痫发生率明显低于对照组,差异显著（P〈0.05）;观察组患者自然分娩率明显高于对照组,差异显著（P〈0.05）;观察组患者剖宫产率明显低于对照组患者,差异显著（P〈0.05）观察组患者对本次护理效果的总满意度明显高于对照组,差异显著（P〈0.05）。结论优质护理应用于妊娠期高血压病疗效显著,有效降低了患者先兆子痫及子痫发生率,提高了患者满意度,值得推广。